GARY ROWETT admits Saturday’s showdown with Middlesbrough is probably ‘make-or-break’ for Derby County’s hopes of claiming a place in the play-offs.

The Rams dropped out of the top six for the first time this year as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Burton Albion last weekend, and while they have a game in hand on all of their rivals for a play-off berth, their form has become a source of major concern.

While Boro claimed their second win in the last three matches as they beat promotion rivals Bristol City last weekend, Derby have won just two of their last 12 games.

Rowett’s side have developed a reputation for choking in the closing stages of the season, and have missed out on promotion on a number of occasions in recent years when they looked nailed-on for a place in the Premier League during the first half of the campaign.

After hosting Boro on Saturday, they will take on promotion-seeking Cardiff and Aston Villa in two of their final three matches, and Rowett admits their margin for error has all but disappeared.

“We’ve got Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Cardiff and Barnsley, so we are going to have to find a way to win probably three of those games,” said the Derby boss. “But my initial reaction is not even to think about whether or not we can get in the play-offs, I am focusing on trying to find a team that will go out there and be brave when they need to be brave.

“If you don’t compete and if you don’t work hard and show a real desperate desire to get in the play-offs, then unfortunately you’re not going to win games. We have to show that in the next four games.”

Meanwhile, Boro’s Under-18s claimed a 1-1 draw with North-East rivals Sunderland yesterday, with Bilall Brahimi scoring their goal direct from a corner.

Boro’s Under-23s claimed a Premier League Division Two play-off spot at the weekend as goals from Luke Armstrong and Connor Malley secured a 2-1 win over West Brom.